Flexible closure for tractor-trailer vehicles



March 11, 1930.,

F. C. M MANUS FLEXIBLE CLOSURE FOR TRACTOR TRAILER VEHICLE S Filed Jan.12, 1929 1 mm HMZMan am, 63 3M Wtowe Patented Mar. 11 1930 UNITED kSTATES.

PATENT OFFICE FRANK O. MOMANUS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TOINTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE FLEXIBLE c Losimn ron TRACTOR-TRAILER VEHICLES Applicationfiled January 12, 1929. Serial No. 331,965.

The invention has particular utility in connection with tractor-trailervehicles of the type in which the trailer serves as the passenger orload carrying portion of the vehicle and is formed with an overhangbeyond its fifth wheel which serves as the top 15 for the cab on thetractor. It will readily be seen that in turning sharp corners, or inbacking and going over extreme irregularir ties in the road surface,theoverhanging top portion will project in a direction such that v the cabof the tractor will not be fully covered. Under these conditions, it isdesirable that a suflicient space be provided between the top of the caband the overhanging top portion of the trailer to prevent interferencebetween the two. This is particularly necessary when the tractor mountsa sharp incline, at which time the clearance between the top of thetractor cab and the overhang ing portion of the trailer is reducedconsiderably. 1

Ail object of this invention is to provide a flexible closure betweenthe top of the cab of the tractor and the suitably spaced overhangingtop of the trailer which latter serves as the closure for the cab. It isfurther contemplated that this flexible .closure shall adapt itselfreadily to misalignment of the tractor and trailer and accommodaterelative movement between the two in all directions.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention isdescribed more fully in connection with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing a preferred form of tractorand trailer provided with a flexible closure constructed in accordancewith the present invention. 60 Figure 2is a view in section, taken online 22 of Figure 1, and looking inthe di-, rection of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a view in section, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

v Figure 4 is an enlarged segmental view in section, showing the mannerin which the flexible closure is held against the top.

Referring to the above drawings, a designates a tractor which may be ofany desired form having a fifth wheel mounting atthe rear thereof. Thisfifth wheel mounting is carried on a platform a and constitutescooperating clamping. members a and a which may be secured together bymeans of bolts a". A convenient form of fifth wheel has been found to bea vehicle tire and is indicated at I), having a wheel portion 6'. Bearing a is carried by a pedestal al'on a trailer (1 and cooperates withthe bearing 6 formed on the fifth wheel. p

The top of the trailer is formed with an overhang 0Z which extends aboveand over the'cab portion a of the tractor a. Inpractice, it has beenfound that the clearance between thetop of the cab and the overhangingportion d of the trailer should be eight inches but this may be variedas conditions in service dictate. In order that the overhanging portion(1 may serve as a top for the cab a and in order that the space betweenthese portions may be closed, an accordion-like flexible .closure 6 isprovided in the form of a rectangular member having flexible side walls6. Thesev flexible sides are-mounted upon a rectangular angle frame 6which is secured to the top of the cab a. The top of the flexibleclosure is formed of a similar rectangular frame a the front and reartransverse frame members being extended and curved downwardly as at efor the purpose described hereinaf-ter. In order that the top and bottomframe members e and e? may normally be urged apart to accommodate thevaryingv spacingbetween the tractor and trailer elements, springs e aremounted between the These springs are carried frame members. in blocks e1n the side members and are threaded over the blocks e which aresuitably secured to the top frame members efas by loo means of screws Itwill be seen that the springs normally urge the top frame member 6upwardly and hold it against the lower portion of the overhanging top(V. The transverse front and rear'portions of the frame which areprovided with the downwardly extending portions 0 serve as shoes to rubagainst the top 03 and the portions 6* serve as guides to enable theclosure to ride 10 under the overhang when the tractor has been turnedto a great angle with respect to the trailer.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to thestructure shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited,save as defined in the appended claims. I

I claim as my invention: 1. In a tractor-trailer vehicle construction, adrivers cab on the tractor, an overhanging top portion on the trailer, aflexible closure between the cab and the overhanging top, top and bottomframes carrying the closure, means to mount the bottom frame upon thecab, springs between the top and bottom frames to urge the top frameagainst the overhanging top, and downwardly extending extensions on thetop frame to cooperate with the overhanging top in positioning theclosure. I

2. In a tractor-trailer vehicle construction, a drivers cab on thetractor, an overhanging top portion on the trailer, a flexible closurebetween the cab and the overhanging top, top 86 and bottom framescarrying the closure,

.means to mount the frames upon .the overhanging top and cab withprovision'for relative movement between one of the frames and one of thesaid mounting elements, and 40 guide shoes on the relatively movableframe to facilitate the movement of the frame into juxtaposition withthe said mounting element. v

3. In a tractor-trailer vehicle-construction, a drivers cab on thetractor, an overhanging top portion on the trailer, a flexible closurebetween the cab and theoverhanging top, top and bottom frames carryingthe closure, means to mount the bottom frame on the cab, and means tourge the top frame yieldingly against the overhanging top with provisionfor movement relative thereto. r

This specificationsigned this 10th day of January, A. D. 1929.

FRANK C McMANUS.

